Li Si's spirits lifted, and he respectfully replied, "Your humble servant is here!"
"Given that your crime occurred in the future, I have decided to pardon you from the death penalty. Otherwise, I would have ordered your men to arrest you immediately!"
Upon hearing Ying Zheng's voice, Li Si breathed a sigh of relief and quickly bowed in gratitude, saying, "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!"
However, Ying Zheng's next words made Li Si's heart leap: "But, while the death penalty may be waived, punishment is inevitable! I have decided..."
Seeing Li Si trembling, Ying Zheng felt he had given him enough of a warning and slowly announced his decision: "I have decided that your position as prime minister will remain unchanged, but your salary will be reduced for three years, and you will remain in custody awaiting punishment. If you make any moves, your entire family will be exterminated immediately!"
Finally, he demanded, "Li Si, are you convinced?"
Upon hearing this, Li Si felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He immediately knelt down, prostrated himself on the ground, and said loudly, "This sinful subject thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness. This sinful subject will certainly devote himself to the cause until his dying breath, and do his utmost for the prosperity of the Great Qin."
Ying Zheng snorted, "Rise!"
Keeping Li Si was a result of his careful consideration.
Li Si, as one of the founding fathers of the Qin Dynasty, followed Ying Zheng for many years and assisted in unifying the world and governing the country.
This person not only enjoys a high reputation in the court, but is also a rare talent for governing the country.
Through the narration of the immortal Xiao Ning, Ying Zheng learned some general outlines of the future.
After his death, when Zhao Gao plotted the Sand Dune Coup, he realized that only by winning over Li Si could he possibly succeed in usurping the throne.
This shows that even rebels could not ignore Li Si's abilities.
Zhao Gao put a lot of thought into this.
It is understood that Li Si was originally a commoner, and he served Qin Shi Huang because he could not bear the lowliness and poverty. Although he now holds the position of one of the Three Dukes and enjoys wealth and honor, he is still worried about his future, fearing that one day everything he has will turn into nothing.
Therefore, Zhao Gao decided to launch an attack on Li Si's weaknesses.
However, at the beginning, Li Si righteously refused Zhao Gao's request.
Seeing that direct persuasion was ineffective, Zhao Gao changed the subject and asked, "Prime Minister, in your opinion, who is stronger between you and General Meng Tian in terms of talent, achievements, strategies, the ability to gain the trust of the people, and the degree of trust Fusu has placed in them?"
Li Si remained silent for a long time, then said sadly, "I am no match for him."
Zhao Gao probed further, saying, "The Prime Minister is a smart man, and he probably understands the stakes even better than I do."
"Once the eldest son ascends the throne, the position of prime minister will surely fall into Meng Tian's hands. At that time, will you still be able to die a peaceful death?"
"Prince Huhai is kind and benevolent, truly the best candidate to be the heir. I hope the Prime Minister will carefully consider this."
Finally, Li Si was in a state of utter confusion. After a fierce internal struggle, he finally compromised with Zhao Gao.
Later, Qin Er Shi (Hu Hai) conscripted laborers to build the Epang Palace, plunging the people into an abyss of suffering.
Li Si, along with Right Chancellor Feng Quji and General Feng Jie, submitted a memorial urging Qin Er Shi (Hu Hai) to halt the construction of the Epang Palace and reduce corvée labor. They were ultimately imprisoned.
While imprisoned, Li Si repeatedly submitted memorials to remonstrate with the emperor.
However, he was subjected to severe torture and forced confession, and was ultimately executed by being cut in half at the waist in Xianyang, along with his entire family.
It was precisely because of this that Ying Zheng, after much deliberation, decided to spare Li Si's life.
After all, being forced to rebel is more likely to gain forgiveness than rebelling voluntarily, isn't it?
After dealing with Li Si, Ying Zheng waved his hand and told him to leave.
Seeing that Ying Zheng's expression was not good, Li Si dared not ask any questions and could only leave with his mind full of worries.
For a moment, only Ying Zheng was in the Jique Palace. There was no sound. The atmosphere was so heavy that you could hear a pin drop.
However, Ying Zheng was thinking about how to deal with his eighteenth son, Huhai.
According to the immortal Xiao Ning, when Prince Huhai ascended the throne and became the Second Emperor of Qin, he feared that his brothers would oppose his rule, so he issued an edict rebuking his eldest son Fusu and ordering him to commit suicide, and then executed his twelve brothers.
Still not satisfied, he crushed the remaining six brothers and ten sisters to death the second time, making the execution ground a gruesome sight.
The remaining three, including Jiang Lü, were eventually forced to commit suicide.
Ultimately, all of Ying Zheng's children died at the hands of Hu Hai.
Whenever he thought of this, Ying Zheng felt as if his heart was being torn apart, his chest filled with hatred, and he wished he could tear Hu Hai to pieces and cut him into a thousand pieces.
However, he was, after all, his own son.
Even a tiger won't eat its cubs.
If he really had to kill him, Ying Zheng couldn't bring himself to do it.
Besides, the young Hu Hai is only twelve years old now, an age of ignorance and naivety, not yet the future Qin Er Shi who would kill his brothers and sisters.
However, Ying Zheng couldn't sleep if he didn't punish him.
On his way back to Xianyang from the Eastern Tour, he often dreamed of his many children, who were weeping and accusing Hu Hai of his crimes.
Ying Zheng was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat and couldn't sleep anymore.
After much deliberation, Ying Zheng's gaze gradually turned cold. In the end, reason prevailed over kinship, and he had decided to punish Hu Hai.
Ying Zheng shouted, "Guards!"
The palace gates burst open, and a commander of armored soldiers strode into the Jique Palace, knelt on one knee, bowed his head, and respectfully replied, "Yes, sir!"
Ying Zheng lowered his eyes and said coldly, "Issue my decree: strip the eighteenth prince, Hu Hai, of his title, demote him to a commoner, banish him from the palace, and let him perish on his own!"